Melhuse knows there's a catch to life as a backup

Published 4:00 am, Thursday, March 16, 2006

2006-03-16 04:00:00 PDT Phoenix -- Adam Melhuse contained himself until the final day of the 2005 season. He obediently sat and watched all year, essentially implanted on the bench as Jason Kendall started more games than any American League catcher in 25 years.

Then, on the last day of the season, Melhuse belied his mild-mannered personality and invited himself into manager Ken Macha's office. Their conversation was decidedly one-sided: Macha listened as Melhuse unloaded six months of bubbling frustration.

He unloaded so forcefully, Melhuse later called Macha to apologize.

"It was an issue where I didn't feel respected, so I went in and said what I had to say," Melhuse said the other day in spring training. "Then I called (Macha) when it looked like he wasn't coming back to Oakland and told him maybe there was a better way I could have handled it."

Said Macha: "I have no problem with a player coming in and voicing his opinion about wanting to play. I know what's going on. I've been on the other end of that."

This is a dynamic worth watching as the A's prepare to embark on their 2006 season. Macha ultimately returned as Oakland's manager, and the catching hierarchy is exactly the same: Kendall, a model of durability whose numbers sagged in '05, and Melhuse, the capable backup trying to toe the line between compliant teammate and productive player.

Photo: ELAINE THOMPSON

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Oakland Athletics' Adam Melhuse throws a football before warm-ups before the team's baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday, Sept. 30, 2005, in Seattle. The Athletics are out of playoff contention this season. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Ran on: 10-01-2005 Ran on: 10-01-2005 less

Oakland Athletics' Adam Melhuse throws a football before warm-ups before the team's baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday, Sept. 30, 2005, in Seattle. The Athletics are out of playoff contention ... more

Photo: ELAINE THOMPSON

Melhuse knows there's a catch to life as a backup

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Kendall made 146 starts last season, the most by a major-league catcher since Benito Santiago's 148 for San Diego in 1991 and the most by an American Leaguer since Rick Cerrone's 146 for the New York Yankees in 1980. Kendall worked exceptionally well with the A's young pitchers, but he also hit .271, well below his career average (now .302), and he threw out only 15 percent of opposing base stealers, the second-lowest percentage in the majors.

And as Kendall became a fixture behind the plate, Melhuse became an uncomfortable fixture in the dugout. He started only 16 games and collected 97 at-bats, a striking contrast to his workload the previous year. Then, as Damian Miller's backup, Melhuse started 53 times, had 214 at-bats and showed some pop in his bat, hitting 11 home runs.

He is unlikely to find similar playing time as Kendall's backup, because Macha covets Kendall's work with the pitching staff. Even so, squatting down game after relentless game takes a toll, so it seems logical that easing Kendall's workload might increase his efficiency and also help keep Melhuse sharp.

"I can see Adam playing a lot more this year," Macha said. "Jason's not going to play as many games this year."

Melhuse, not surprisingly, remains skeptical.

"I'm not going to bank on it, but if that's the way it goes, it'll be great," he said. "It was extremely impressive how many games Jason caught last year. Then I jump back to the fact that if I had played a few more games, maybe that would have helped him. I felt like what I had to offer the team kind of got left in the dugout."

Melhuse, who turns 34 later this month, cannot offer a Kendall-like track record. Kendall, 31, is a three-time All-Star who has been a starter in the majors the past 10 years, the first nine with Pittsburgh. Melhuse is a journeyman, a former third baseman who spent most of his first 10 professional years in the minors.

At the same time, Melhuse's efficiency as a pinch-hitter and success in '04 suggest he can contribute in the majors. He's also a switch-hitter, a rare skill among catchers and probably one reason he attracted some trade interest last season, especially from Seattle when then-starter Dan Wilson was injured (the Mariners ultimately acquired Giants backup Yorvit Torrealba).

Melhuse might have welcomed a trade then, but he enjoys the camaraderie in the A's clubhouse and has learned to adapt to his limited playing time. He and Kendall talk constantly, so Melhuse can keep up with what Oakland's pitchers are doing. Kendall called Melhuse "as professional as they come."

That doesn't mean Kendall will not resist if Macha really does rest him more often this season.

"I take a lot of pride in going out there every day," Kendall said. "That said, we have a lot of depth. When (Melhuse) is in there, we don't miss a beat."

Briefly: The A's, who had their only scheduled Cactus League day off Wednesday, return to action today against the Brewers in Maryvale. Dan Haren is expected to start for Oakland. ... The A's play the Giants two more times in Arizona: Tuesday in Scottsdale and March 29 in Phoenix. ... Rich Harden threw 78 pitches in a simulated game against minor-leaguers. He allowed one hit, struck out two and walked one.